Before James Gunn’s Superman releases in a few days , this review felt relevant. That film hopes to revolutionize the superhero genre when it’s desperately needed. As a hero, Superman has always proven to be an enigma. His powers and abilities make him such a serious opponent; it’s hard to feel the tension for him in any situation. In a time when the superhero genre needs revitalization, this 2025 film needs to succeed. What many forget is that Superman helped establish the superhero movie genre in the first place. Without Richard Donner’s Superman film from 1978, we may not have the superhero universes we do now.
Superman, starring the late great Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando, Margot Kidder, and Gene Hackman, takes things back to basics for superheroes. The story of Superman follows Kal-El, the son of Krypton, who is sent to Earth. As his world is dying, Kal-El is sent by his father, Jor-El (Marlon Brando), and mother, Lara (Susannah York), to become a symbol of humanity. Crash landing in Smallville, Kansas, Kal-El is found by both Pa Kent (Glenn Ford) and Ma Kent (Phyllis Thaxter). Raising him as their own, the Kents give him the human name of Clark. The film follows Clark as he adapts to human life and becomes the hero that earns the name Superman.
To get the obvious out of the way, this is a very dated movie. The story written by Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Mario Puzo embraces a certain cheesiness. For many, that has made the film a cult classic. Behind all of the corny humor and heart exists an element of genuine humanity. Granted, that may not translate to newcomers in the 2025 movie landscape. Clocking in at 143 minutes, the film contains a large amount of narrative fat. That means more than just accounting for the often ridiculous humor. Additionally, criticism has to fall to the film’s lengthy origin story.
The origins of Superman are a tale as old as time. Fans of the genre are likely familiar with this character and his humble beginnings. Even non-fans are most likely aware of how Superman becomes the iconic character. If the film has any issues, it’s the lengthy time spent on this section. It’s a rather simplistic look at his origin story going from his young age to the Clark Kent audiences know. This includes the cliches of conversations with Pa Kent about his purpose and his Pa’s death. It’s a tedious set of sequences that has aged in a rather poor and lackluster fashion. For some this may hold the film back from being the classic many claim that it is. Once that section is over, Superman manages to find its grove.
Its success can largely be attributed to the performance of Christopher Reeve. To put it simply, the performance strikes a balance. Reeve has to create two characters and integrate them together. This includes the balance of heroic Superman and the Nebbish Clark Kent. Reeve makes that balance an incredibly enjoyable watch from start to finish. Seeing him navigate the life of Clark and his relationship with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) feels genuine. You can tell his real affection for her, and the moral quandary he faces. Clark obviously loves her, but wants to keep her safe. Yet when he’s not in that Superman persona, you can see the longing he has for Lois.
In turn, that makes his Superman identity all the more impactful. The shift in affect builds, creating a rather charming romance with Lois. It not only feels honest, but helps elevate Kidder’s performance. Kidder certainly isn’t bad in the film, but simply does not get as much to play. She is nothing more than a “tough and street smart reporter” while also being a damsel in distress. In the quite moments between her and Clark, she gives off a humanity that gives the film stakes. Those stakes become more relevant with the villianous portrayal of Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman).
Hackman’s portrayal of Luther is inarguably over the top. It’s a moustache twirling performance that would come off disingenuous today. For the time, the performance fits seamlessly in the story. Hackman relishes every moment on screen creating a palpable threat. That is even with henchman like Eve Teschmacher (Valerie Perrine) and Otis (Ned Beatty). Like many old-school superhero films, those characters feel like nothing more than cartoons. Certainly an understandable addition of the time, they exist as a weaker component compared to Hackman’s performance.
Granted, those elements work oddly well together in the action set pieces. Such moments like Superman trying to stop an eastbound missile certainly feel underwhelming. Everything looks and feels rather fake and obviously filmed on a sound stage. What’s undeniable, is that these sequences still feel very exciting. The tension is palpable with both serious stakes and exciting action. In these moments, it feels like the essence of Superman is perfectly conveyed. He wants nothing more than do good, no matter the cost. It’s a perfect culmination of both the themes and ideas that make the character who he is.
Superman was a film that started the craze of superhero movies. While dated now, the film embodied a classical story of both good vs evil. Watching that classic battle of thematics is incredibly exciting even with a film as silly as this. No matter the zany 70s filmmaking, most of the performances (particularly Reeve) stay rather grounded. We care about Clark, and watch with pride as he comes into the hero we know he can be. It makes for an exciting finished product that I hope James Gunn’s Superman can capture for modern audiences.
Superman is available to stream or buy at your digital retailer of choice.
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